PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sean Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Skan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherk comes to the cage accompanied by Earshot. Sean Sherk could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aaron Skan's chin.

Sherk
vs
Skan

171 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Sherk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Skan!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherk looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Skan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sherk looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Still in half guard, Sherk seems content to control.
Sherk looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sherk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Skan is looking to improve his position.
Skan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sherk trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk passes the guard and advances to mount!
Skan can't escape the position.
Sherk controlling from mount.
Skan is looking to improve his position but Sherk isn't that keen on the idea.
Sherk controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Sean Sherk just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Sherk scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Skan is being controlled here.
Skan throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Sherk is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Skan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sherk tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Skan is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sherk tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Skan seems a little lost for a moment, as Sherk dominates the positioning.
Skan throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Sherk controlling the position.
Sherk has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skan is looking to reverse the position.
Skan looks gassed!

Sherk working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Skan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A lull in the action here as Sherk stalls from top position.
Skan tries to bench press Sherk off him but Sherk keeps the position.
Sherk takes a little break here. Skan wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Sean Sherk just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Skan gets caught flat footed, as Sherk shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Sherk postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Skan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sherk, into his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sherk is trying to control the position but Skan postures up.
Sherk on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sherk tries to get out of the position.
Sherk pulls Skan in close to prevent any damage.
Skan throws a big right hand that misses.
Skan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sherk is on top in guard.
Sherk controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Sherk dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Skan stuffs the takedown attempt from Sherk. Sherk gets slowly back to his feet.
Sherk shoots in but no luck this time.
Sherk shoots in for a takedown but Skan shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sherk stuffs the takedown attempt from Skan. Skan gets slowly back to his feet.
Sherk with a poor takedown

and Skan moves into the clinch.
Sherk is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Skan pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Skan lands a takedown into guard.
Skan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Skan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sherk works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Skan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sherk works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Skan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Skan looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skan passes into half guard.
Skan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sherk fails with the takedown

and Skan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Skan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Skan lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Skan in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Skan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Sherk's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Skan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sherk keeps working.
Skan working away.
Skan cracks Sherk with a big elbow.
Sherk struggling a bit here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Danga de danga de dang - Skan scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sherk closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sherk lands in his opponent's guard.
Sherk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Skan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sherk pushes down on Skan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sherk trying to control the pace.
Skan trying to hold on to Sherk's head to control him but Sherk postures up.
Sherk tries to pass to full mount but Skan defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk is controlling the pace.

Sherk is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Skan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sherk.
Sherk not doing much here.
Skan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sherk preventing the sweep.
Skan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Skan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sherk content to stall in guard here.
Skan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sherk is holding on to half guard well.
Sean Sherk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Skan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sherk works his way to full guard. Good work.
Skan being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Skan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sherk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Skan counters by clinching up.
Skan lands a body punch.
Sherk gets underhooks to prevent Skan's takedown attempt.
Sherk wants a takedown but no success here.
Sherk has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Skan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sherk.
Sherk goes for a takedown attempt but Skan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sherk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Skan counters with a three punch combo that has Sherk backing up. Sherk nods at Skan to acknowledge the strikes.
Skan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Sherk gets the takedown into side control.

Sherk working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sherk is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Skan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Skan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk advances to mount.
Sherk controlling the position easily from mount.
Sherk's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Sean Sherk just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Sherk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Skan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sherk controls the pace.
Sherk seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Skan for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherk is one step ahead there.
Sherk passes Skan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Skan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sherk content to control rather than advance.
Sherk wants to pass the guard but Skan is defending well.
Skan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sherk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sherk passes to side control.
Sherk tries to move into full mount but can't pass Skan's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skan is trying to control Sherk's posture but Sherk avoids it.
Skan manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sherk's best efforts.
Skan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Skan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherk is one step ahead there.
Sherk sitting in guard here, content to control.
Skan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherk is one step ahead there.
Skan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Skan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sherk controls the pace.
Sherk stopping the sweep attempt from Skan.
Sherk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sherk won't allow Skan to sweep him here.
Skan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Skan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sherk doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Skan counters with a nice uppercut.

Sherk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Skan!
Skan can't escape the position.
Sherk sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Sherk is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Skan has managed to escape the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Sherk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sherk has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Sherk!